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Article excerpt

Steve Bergsman

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Steve was born in the Big Apple but raised in Levittown, New York. He wrote a book about it: Growing Up Levittown: In a Time of Conformity, Controversy and Cultural Crisis. Home now is in Mesa, Arizona, where during winter he rides his bike 150 miles a week. Also a travel writer, his passport's been to 135 countries. After four books on real estate investing, he tackled a new genre. The Death of Johnny Ace, his first novel, is a fictionalized biography of an early 1950s R&B singer who died playing Russian roulette moments before a Christmas Eve concert in Houston.

Jerry DeMuth

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Jerry launched his freelance career by writing a nightlife column while studying at Northwestern University. He started as an engineering student but went on to become campus magazine editor and a journalism major. He eventually found his way to the Chicago Sun-Times and hired on as a reporter. All the time, he kept his freelance gigs going, covering topics like music, film, travel, food, social issues and books. He has written humorous pieces for "four obscure publications" (his words). He has taught at Northwestern's School of Journalism but now freelances full-time.

John Desmond

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John is both an experienced business attorney and a veteran of the mortgage industry, having directed mortgage origination operations for nearly 20 years. He recently returned to his Denver roots to oversee the regulatory compliance function for Stewart Lender Services' capital markets division. Previously living just outside New Orleans, John is a huge fan of the New Orleans Saints, Jazzfest and Cajun food. He loves spending time with his wife listening to either of his two teenage daughters sing and play music.

Robert Stowe England

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Born in York, South Carolina, Robert has traveled extensively, including to China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Argentina and Northern Ireland. A Duke graduate with a major in English, he was associate editor of the student newspaper. His reporting career began with The Hartford Times in Connecticut, after which he detoured into market research/advertising. He returned to journalism as editor of the Delaware Valley Business Magazine, Philadelphia, and then wrote for Insight magazine. He has been a frequent contributor to Mortgage Banking since responding to an ad for freelancers in 1988.

Michael Lewis

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Michael is a graduate of the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history. He was born and raised in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. He spent the first part of his journalism career on daily newspapers, including a long stint at The State in Columbia, South Carolina, where he wrote about banking, finance and politics. He currently lives in Los Angeles and is the managing editor of member publications for the National Notary Association. He also is a former notary public.

Jade Rahmani

Jade is based in KBW's New York office. Since joining the firm in May 2007. he has been a lead analyst on the Mortgage Finance team, responsible for covering residential and commercial mortgage investment companies, including the home builders sector. Prior to joining KBW. he spent three years as a senior associate analyst at Prudential Financial following aerospace, defense and other industrial companies. Jade holds an M.B.A. from New York University's Leonard N. Stern School of Business. with an emphasis in finance and accounting as well as a co-major in entrepreneurship. …